Pencil sharpener



E. K. DAVIS PENCIL SHARPENER 7 F11 Feb. 11,'1922 3 Shoots-Shut 1 7 March 31, 1925. I 1,531,738

E. K. DAVIS 1 mm. smmrsnan Filed Feb. 11, 1922 3 Shuts-Sheet 3 I 7," 4y I I I phases Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES EDWIN K. DAVIS, OF MIONT CLARE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PENCIL SI'IARPENER.

Application filed February 11, 1922. Serial No. 535,690.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN K. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mont Clare, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil Sharpeners, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved pencil sharpener which can be easily and conveniently used for accurately and neatly sharpening pencils and in which the structure will be such as not to waste the pencils.

Another object is to 'arrange the sharpening elements in an improved manner within a box which can be conveniently carried in the pocket; the box also serving as a container for the pencil chips and also being adapted to be readily opened to discharge the chips.

A further object is to provide the box with a transparent portion through which the pencil point and sharpening elements are visible so that a person can watch the sharpening action and thereby govern the sharpening movement accordingly.

A still further object is to make my improved sharpener of a durable construction which can be readily manufactured.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved pencil sharpener,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2; the sharpening elements being illustrated in outside view,

Figure 4 is a view of the same general character as shown in Figure 3 illustrating the action of the device when sharpening a pencil,

Figure 5 is a section takenon the line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, a

Figure 7 is a View of the same general character as shown in Figure 1 illustrating parts of the device moved to allow the dis charge of the pencil chips and also expos- H ing a file which can be used for further sharpening the point of the pencil if desired,

Figure 8 is an elevation of a cutter which I employ,

Figure 9 is a top plan view of. Figure 8,

Figure 10 is an elevation of a combined presslng finger and pencil point guide whlch forms a part of my invention, 1OFigure 11 is an end elevation-of Figure V Figure 12 is a top plan view of Figure 10,

Figure 13 is an elevational view of one side of a modified form of my c'utter,

Figure 14 is a view of the opposite side of the cutter shown in Figure 13,

Figure 15 is a view of the same general character as shown in Figure 3 illustrating the application of the form of cut-, ter shown in Figures 13 and 14 instead of the form of cutter shown in Figures 8 and 9,

Figure 16 is a top plan view of another form of my invention in which'one end portion is pivotally mounted and shown in its open position,

Figure 17 is a side elevation of Figure 16 illustrating in full lines said end portion in its closed position an d i n dot-ancbdash lines said end portion in its open position,

Figure 18 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 1818 of Figure 17, and

Figure 19 is a section taken on the line 1919 of Figure 16.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 to 12 inclusive, my improved sharpener includes a box 20 which is preferably made of metal and open at its end 21. The opposite end 22 of the box 20 is closed with the exception that it has a hole 23 which is extended inward by the provision of a tube or' sleeve24c and said sleeve can be made of a length of cylindrical pipe or tubing centrally located within the width of the box. Thus the sleeve provide a cylindrical guideway passage 25 whicl leads inward from the outer surface of the 1 28 and 29 which, when the drawer is in-' serted, are closely adjacent the inner surfaces of the opposite sides of the boX. The

drawer 26 has an end flange 80 which, when the drawer 26 is inserted,- forms a complete closure for the open end 21 of the box 20.

' project slightly beyond the outer surfaces of the sides of the box and provide a convenient finger grip for moving the drawer partway out of the box or in other words into the position shown in Figure 7.

A spring clip 33, which can be made in the form of a strip of spring metal, is secured at one endto a spring 53 hereinafter specifically described, and said spring clip has a projecting pin 34 secured thereto; said pin preferably being rounded on its outer end. This pin 34 extends through a hole 35 in the flange 29 and is adapted to engage within either of two holes 36 and 37 in the side 38 of the box 20. For example, when the drawer is entirely within the box, as shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the pin 34 will be positioned within the hole 36 and the rounded end of the pin will project slightly beyond the outer surface of the side 38 so that by pressing the finger on the pin, the clip 33 will be bowed inward and the drawer can be pulled outward and when the pin 34 registerswith the hole 37, the tension of the clip 33 will cause the pin to be moved into the hole 37 and thereby limit the outward movement of the drawer in the position shown in Figure 7 If it is desired to entirely remove the drawer, the pin 34 can be pushed inward through the hole 37 and then the drawer can be entirely removed from the box.

The sleeve 24 is of such diameter that the bottom 27 of the drawer can pass under said sleeve as shown in Figure 6 so that the drawer does not interfere with the position of the sleeve 24.

The bottom 27 of the drawer has two lugs 39 and 40 struck up therefrom at positions so as to be located at opposite sides of the sleeve 24. A combined pressing finger and pencil point guide 41 is made of a strip of metal pressed into the form illustrated and includes a hooked end 42 which is adapted to partly embrace the side edge being cooperative with another leg portion 46 of the spring 43 to exert a pressure upon the hooked end 42 so as to hold said hooked end in engagement with the lug 39. The free end 47 of the spring leg 46 bears upon the finger 41 forward of the hooked end 42 and the forward portion of said finger 41 is centrally recessed as shown at 48 between its top and bottom; the recess being deeper at the end 49 of the finger and gradually becoming shallower toward the hooked end 42 for a purpose hereinafter rendered obvious.

A cutter 50, shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9, has a blade portion 51 with a hooked end 52 which is adapted to partly embrace the edge portion of the lug 40 which is opposed to the side flange 29 of the drawer 26. The spring 53 is constructed substantially in the same manner as the spring 43 and includes a leg portion 54 which co-acts with a leg portion 55 to exert pressure between the hooked end 52 of the cutter and the lug 40; the free end 56 of the spring leg 55 serving to exert pressure on the plate portion of the cutter 50; the arrangement being such that the springs 43 and 53 will move the finger 41 and cutter 50 toward each other or in other words from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 6.

The blade portion of the cutter includes a beveled cutting edge 57 which slants clownward and forward from the top 58 of the blade portion 51 and furthermore this cutting edge extends at a slant diverging rearwardly relatively to the axis of the guide way passage 25 of the sleeve 24; a portion of the cutting edge 57 being in advance or forward of the free end 49 of the finger 41. Thus it will be noted that the cutting edge extends at an angle to the axis of the guide way passage 25 in two directions. In other words, at an angle upward and downward with respect to said axis and rearwardly diverging with respect to said axis. VJith this arrangement of parts, when the end of a pencil, such for example as the end 59 of the pencil 60, is inserted through the guideway passage 25 of the sleeve 24, it will tend to push the finger 41 and the cutter 50 apart at their free forward portions and by rotating the pencil relatively to the device, the cutting edge 57 of the knife will pare the portion 59 and owing to the resilient pressure upon the finger 41 and cutter 50, the paring will take place in the form of a taper and as has been proved by the actual use of the device, the pencil will be moved in a direction sliding outward through the guideway passage 25 until the knife has completed the cutting of the lead portion 61 of the pencil.

As a means for pointing theextreme end of the lead, I provide the following structure. A housing 62, which is preferably made of bent sheet material, includes a front plate flange 63, two end flanges 64 which. are bent at right angles to the plate flange 63, and a bottom flange 65 as clearly shown in Figures and 5. The flanges 6-1 are secured to the opposite side flanges 28 and 29 of the drawer and the plate flange 63 18 secured to the inner surface of the end flange 30 of the drawer; the bottom flange .65 resting upon the bottom 27 of the drawer. The bottom flange 65 has parts 66 which are bent around the lower edge portion of a plate file 67; the plate file extending at a slant as clearly shown in Figure 5 forward and at its top is positioned against the plate flange 63 and said plate flange has portions 68 which are bent around the forward top edge portion of the plate file so as to hold the plate file in said slanting position so that the plate file will be included in a plane slanting to the axis of the guideway passage 25 so that when the lead pencil is extended into its full inward position as shown in dotted lines at 69 in Figure 5, the lead point 61 will engage the plate file 67 and during the initial rotation of the pencil to pare and sharpen the same, the extreme point of the lead will be slightly pointed due to engagement with the plate file, the pencil being rotated upon withdrawal from the cutting device to eliminate the cutting action of the cutter upon the pencil. I

In addition to the above mentioned functions of the plate file, it will be noted that when the drawer 26 is partway extended as shown in Figure 7, that the plate file will be exposed and can be used for sharpening the extreme point of a lead pencil in case it is not desired or necessary to sharpen the wood portion of the pencil. A further function of said plate file is that it facilitates the removal of the parings from the bottom since the blade extends at a slant and the parings will readily slide therefrom when the box is tilted with the drawer partway extended.

In the form of cutter illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, the blade 70 is mounted within a holder 71; said holder having two integrally bent sides 72 and 78; the material of the holder being such as to allow the blade to be forced between the sides 72 and 73 and slightly spring them apart so as to firmly hold the blade against moving upward; the side 72 being bent to provide a hooked end 741 for engagement with the lug 40 as shown in Figure 15; said hooked end having a part 75 which extends at an angle to the plane of the space between the sides 72 and 73 to form an abutment for the rear end of the blade and thereby prevent the blade from moving lengthwise within the holder. The cutting edge portion of the blade 70 is arranged similarly to the cutting edge portion 57 above described in connection with the cutter 50 and it will be noted that when using the form of cutter illustrated in Fig ures 13, 14 and 15 that when the blade becomes worn'to such extent as to be no further useful that the blade can be removed from the holder and a new blade inserted so that it will not be necessary to. discard the entire cutter. To facilitate the insertion and removal of the blade .70 within the holder 71, the sides 72 and 73 are cut away or recessed at their top edges as shown at 76 to allow finger room for convenient-1v gripping the blade.

The box 20 has a hole 77 inits top directly over the forward portions of the fingerand cutter blade and this hole77, is closed by a transparent member 78 whichmay be isinglass, celluloid or other suitable material; the top of the box having struck-up clips 79 which are bent over the member 7 8 adjacent its edge so as to hold the latter in place as clearly shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6. Thus the interior of the box can be seen so that a person can watch the sharpening action as previously mentioned.

In the form of my invention shown in Figures 16 to 19, the box 20 is made. in two sections 20 and 20 and instead of providing the drawer with an end flange similar to the flange 30, the section 20 of the box has an open end and a trough 80 which is pivotally secured thereto at 81 for the purpose of rocking the trough into,the positions illustrated; said trough having a plate file 82 which is exposed when the trough is opened so that the file can be used for sharpening the extreme end of the pencil. 'The plate file 82, when the trough is closed, is

located within the confines of the box and it will be noted that when it is desired to empty the box it can be done either by partway opening the trough or it can be done by sliding either of the box sections relatively to each other. In all other respects the construction is similar to that above described and I have given corresponding parts similar reference characters.

l/Vhile I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a pencil sharpener, means providing a guideway passage for a pencil; a movably mounted finger having a recess; a cutter movably mounted relatively to said finger;

and means for moving said finger and cutter toward the axis of said passage to intercept .a pencil inserted through said passage, said recess serving to embrace a portion of said pencil; substantially as described.

2. In a pencil sharpener, means providing a guideway passage for a pencil to be sharp ened; means providing fulcrums; a guide finger having a portion in engagement with one of said fulcrums; a cutter having a portion in engagement with the other of said fulcrums; and means for swinging said finger and cutter on their fulcrums toward the axis of said passage, said cutter including a knife having a cutting edge extending at a slant to said axis; substantially as described.

3. In a pencil sharpener, means providing a guideway passage fora pencil to be sharpened; means providing fulcrums; a guide finger having a portion in engagement with one of said fulcrums; a cutter having a portion in engagement with the other of said fulcrums; and means for swinging said finger and cutter on their fulcrums toward the axis of said passage, said cutter including a blade having a cutting edge extending at a slant in two directions to said axis; substantially as described.

4. In a pencil sharpener, means providing a guiding passage for a pencil, a cutting element and a pencil point embracing element extending at a slant to the axis of the guiding passage and provided with hook shaped end portions, lug members having side edges for engagement with the hook shaped end portions providing a fulcrum for said elements, and resilient means having portions engaging the hook shaped end portions of said elements for holding them in engagement with said lug members and having portions for moving the opposite ends of said elements towards the axis of the guiding passage.

5. In a pencil sharpener, a member pro viding a guiding passage for a. pencil, a cutting element and a recessed guide element having end portions for engagement with a pencil inserted through said passage, means adapted for engagement with the opposite end portions of said elements providing a fulcrum, and resilient means having portions engaging said opposite end portions of said elements adapted to retain said end portions in engagement with the means providing a fulcrum.

6. A device of the class described including a casing having a drawer slidably arranged therein and having a member providing a guiding passage for a pencil, lug members struck upwardly from said drawer on opposite sides of said guiding passage, cutting elements within the casing and having hook-shaped end portions for engagement with the side edges of the lug members, and resilient means having portions engaging the hook shaped end portions of the cutting elements for retaining said end portions in engagement with the lug members and having portions engaging the sides of said cutting elements for moving said cutting elements in a direction toward the axis of the guiding passage.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN K. DAVIS.

WVitnesses:

ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAS. E. POTTS. 

